Human papilloma virus vaccine: Awareness and acceptability amongst female medical students and health workers in a University Teaching Hospital in Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the developing countries. Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been implicated as the causative agent. Cervical cancer can primarily be prevented by vaccinating girls and women against HPV infection. Acceptability is demonstrated by the willingness of health workers to use these strategies themselves and to recommend them to their daughters and others. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the awareness and acceptability of HPV vaccine among female health workers and female medical students in Orlu, Imo State, South-eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire based cross-sectional survey using 150 female health workers including female clinical medical students selected randomly from the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu. Results: The awareness of HPV vaccine was high (74.0%). The majority (57.3%) got the information either from conferences or class lectures. Other sources of information were radio, television and journals 5 (28.0%), while 14.6% got the information from their colleagues. Most of the health workers (67.3%) would recommend the vaccine to their adolescent daughters and clients. Most (64.6%) of the respondents did not think that the vaccine would lead to promiscuity. A good number of the respondents think that the vaccine would reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Conclusion: The awareness of HPV vaccine and among female health workers in Orlu is high. This is very encouraging these female health workers will help in the dissemination of information regarding the use of this vaccine in the primary prevention of cervical cancer.